Happy 38th Independence Day to Zimbabweans

Zimbabweans at home and around the world today celebrates the country's 38th Independece day from foreign rule since April 18th, 1980.

Zimbabwe’s Independence Day is a public holiday in Zimbabwe. 

History of Zimbabwe’s Independence Day
On this day in 1980, Southern-Rhodesia gained independence from the British, taking the name Zimbabwe. The day marked the end of racial segregation after a protracted war of liberation that claimed many lives. 

Before independence, Zimbabwe was annexed by a number of colonizers such as Portugal, the Ndebele, and later the United Kingdom (UK).  

In the ninety year span that Zimbabwe was a colony, it was administered by the British South African Company (BSAC) under the name Rhodesia and the Responsible Government under the name Southern Rhodesia. Both administrative systems were under the British   monarchy. 

The greatest struggle was that of the former partially ending its colonial power on November 11, 1965 in the Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe) but was not recognised internationally and led to sanctions against the country. This also led to an extensive campaign of guerilla warfare within Rhodesia and the rise of the Zanu and Zapu organisations. However the UK officially recognized its full independence on April 18, 1980 where Robert Mugabe took the head of state post after independence.

On August 1, 1953, Britain created the Central African Federation, made up of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi). It was dissolved on December 31, 1963 due to the growing tensions among the people of Nyasaland and Rhodesia.

Following the breakup of the Federation in 1964, when Zambia and Malawi gained independence, Ian Smith leader of a white segregationist government became the first Prime Minister of the country (now called Rhodesia). Smith began a campaign for independence from Britain, with the government being run by the white minority. 

In 1965, Zimbabwe became autonomous after Ian Douglas Smith made a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from Britain. This was after the British government had made majority rule a condition for the independence of Rhodesia from Britain. Smith followed the UDI by declaring Rhodesia a Republic, which however, did not have international recognition and caused Zimbabwe huge economic sanctions from the powerful members of the United Nations when negotiations between Smith and UK failed to achieve favourable result in both governments.

Republic of Rhodesia was established in 1970 but it was only South Africa which recognizes the country’s independence as UK did not recognize it as a legitimate republic just yet.

From June 1979, the Republic of Southern Rhodesia was replaced by Zimbabwe-Rhodesia after Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa won the first majority elections. Lacking international recognition, after about three months, the country was taken back into the hands of Britain, as per the Lancaster House Agreement which was meant facilitate transition. The country once again became a British colony known as Southern Rhodesia. 

In February of 1980, elections were held where Robert Mugabe, head of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) won the majority and became the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. 

Zimbabwean independence is celebrated on 18 April each year and Robert Mugabe has been at the helm since 1980 until November 2017 when he was replace by Emmerson Mnangagwa. 

Zimbabwe’s Independence Day: Traditions, Customs and Activities

During the celebration, the government holds its usual ceremonial speeches and military parade along with the public air exhibition of fighter planes in the sky in the country’s capital, Harare.

Public celebrations are usually held at National Sports Stadium or at the Rufaro Sports Stadium. Releasing white doves has become a tradition during the holiday symbolizing peace across the nation while singing Zimbabwe’s national anthem ‘Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe’ (‘Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe’).

Each year since 1983, Zimbabwe’s Independence Day celebrations culminate in a football match between two local teams who battle it out for the coveted Independence Day Trophy.

The Name Zimbabwe 
The name is taken from zimbaramabwe, the Shona words meaning “big house of stone” 

When did it become a Republic?
Zimbabwe became a democratic republic headed by a President who administers government policy through a ministerial cabinet. General elections are held every five years. 

The Zimbabwe Parliament
Zimbabwe has two-house parliament – a senate and a house of assembly – which were merged into one chamber in 1990.